A federal judge Friday removed himself from the case of a former Los Angeles deputy mayor charged with reporting a fake bomb threat to City Hall last year.

Brian K. Williams, 61, of Pasadena was scheduled to plead guilty on Friday in downtown Los Angeles to a single federal count of threats regarding fire and explosives, which carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years.

However, the judge overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr., said at the hearing that he has known Williams for many years, and recused himself from the case, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office told City News Service.

A new judge will eventually be assigned to the case and a new change of plea hearing date will be scheduled, ideally within the next one to two weeks, the spokesman said

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